Under what condition do plastic and foam buoys remain on station?

• A. Must be replaced every year
• B. Are never used in safety zones
• C. Should be removed if not functional after 6 months
• D. Remain on station as long as they can be maintained by a servicing unit and serve as an effective aid to navigation

Answer: (D)

Plastic and foam buoys stay on station as long as they can be kept in serviceable condition by the servicing unit and continue to function effectively as an aid to navigation. They’re designed to be maintained and repaired, so if the buoy can be repaired, reset, and kept in the correct position with proper markings, it remains on station. If it cannot be kept functional or accurate, it should be removed and replaced. This approach avoids fixed-interval replacements and ensures navigational marks remain reliable; it also reflects that safety zones don’t inherently require these buoys to be removed, only that they remain functional and serve their navigational purpose.